Rhode Island Has the Highest Rate of Medicare Part D Claims for Benzodiazepines Among New England States.

BACKGROUND

Benzodiazepine use among older adults is discouraged.

METHODS

We analyzed the Medicare Part D Prescribers by Provider and Drug dataset to determine the number of benzodiazepine claims per 100 Medicare enrollees for each NE state between 2016-2020, and to determine the percentage of benzodiazepine claims by provider type.

RESULTS

Rhode Island led all NE states the with highest annual rates of Part D benzodiazepine claims for all years from 2016 to 2020. Benzodiazepine claims decreased in all NE states over the 5-year period. Internal medicine and family practice providers were associated with the highest percentage of benzodiazepine claims.

CONCLUSION

While Part D benzodiazepine claims declined between 2016-2020, the overall volume of dispensings suggests that these medications remain overprescribed among older adults. Our findings underscore the need for intensified efforts to reduce benzo- diazepine use among Medicare beneficiaries in RI.